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Review and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 1.

THE RESURRECTION
Earlier text: THE RESURRECTION

OUTRAGES IN IRELAND.

The pope is in a high state of excitement over the establishment of Protestant churches and Protestant schools in Rome, under the very shadow of the Vatican, and the pope's representatives in Ireland are similarly excited on account of Protestant education in that priest-ridden country. At the last accounts, a trial was in progress at Clifden, County Galway, of Father Rhatigan, a Roman Catholic priest, and nearly forty other persons, two of whom are women, for alleged riots and unlawful assemblies on the 2d, 4th, and 23d of March, at Omey Island, Connemara, where a Protestant missionary school was established. Mr. McNeice, the school master, who was recently violently assaulted and obliged to retire from the place, was brought there under the protection of the police to give evidence. A variety of outrages upon Protestant farmers and others had been practiced, their houses assaulted and their crops destroyed. A policeman testified that an inflammatory altar address was delivered by Father Rhatigan, on Sunday, the 2d of March, and that a riot occurred at Claddaghduff, in which the priest took a prominent part. When the address was over, the congregation left the chapel, and accompanied by the priest proceeded to the house of a Protestant convert named Courcey, hooting and throwing stones. The witness told Father Rhatigan and the crowd to go home and throw no more stones. Father Rhatigan replied, “My people will not be dictated to by you or by any one but myself.” Witness remained about the place for some time after the crowd went home, to protect the Courceys. Constable Sheehan, who on March 23d was severely beaten, and had one of his ribs broken, confirmed this evidence. At Ballinaboy, which is about two miles from Clifden, a mission school was wrecked.
The Dublin Evening Mail gives the following account of these proceedings:—
“Tranquillity prevailed in Connemara until the Roman Catholic curate of Clifden, Rev. Mr. Rhatigan, commenced to visit the schools belonging to the Irish church missions, with the ostensible object of seeing if any Roman Catholic children were being educated in them. The schools are open to all children who choose to attend them. The priest went round the entire children, asked their names, and ordered some of them out of the school. On the school-mistress interfering, he called her a ‘raw’ and ‘an unfortunate wretch.’ On the 28th of February he entered the school, situated on Omey Island, about ten miles from Clifden. This school was established about twenty-five years ago, and being licensed, is also used as a church. Rev. Mr. Rhatigan pursued a somewhat similar course with regard to Omey Island school as he had done previously at Balleek, and on the schoolmaster interfering he was struck twice by a stick which the priest carried. The master then forcibly ejected the priest, who fell upon a rock outside the school-door. The people assembled around the school-house immediately, and made an attack upon the building. Mr. M'Neice (who also acts as a mission Scripture-reader) succeeded in barring the school door, and by placing chairs, etc., against the windows, protected himself from violence. The mob, however, threw stones freely, and having broken mostly all the glass in the windows, they retired. Since this occurrence the Rev. Mr. Rhatigan has, it has been deposed, incited his parishioners by inflammatory addresses from the altar to further violence, and they have acted up to his advice. Further attacks were made upon Mr. M'Neice afterward, and members of his family. Two hundred panes of glass were broken in the church of Reenvyle, which is many miles from the scene of the Omey Island outrage.”
This is the spirit of Romanism wherever it has had rule. But the days of its power have gone, and in Rome, France, and Ireland, as in other parts of the world, priestly tyranny will soon be a thing of the past. It dies hard, but die it must.—Christian Statesman.

THE LAST RESORT.

By A. Smith

AFTER every other argument to support first-day sanctity has been fairly met and refuted by Bible testimony, it is generally asserted, as a last resort, without an attempt at logical demonstration, that “it makes no difference which day we keep, if only we keep one day in seven.” Now it is a remarkable fact that about every one who urges this assertion, practically nullifies the argument by observing the first day only, and condemning the observance of the seventh day whenever policy renders it prudent to do so.
If we could witness, on the part of the advocates of this principle, frequent or even occasional deviations in favor of the second, fifth, or seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, we would be compelled to admit their honesty; but in the absence of such demonstration we cannot but regard it as a dishonorable subterfuge. If such would lay open their hearts in the sight of God, they would discover the hidden motives of action to be worldly interest, popular sentiment, fear of reproach, or love of self, and not the honor of God alone, and a desire to advance the interests of revealed truth in the world.
Reader, if you keep the first day as the Sabbath, do you do so to honor the Creator of heaven and earth, and do you fear that you would dishonor him by observing the seventh day, of which alone there is Bible evidence of sanctification; or can you see in the terms of the preceding paragraph a reflection of the secret springs of action that animate your practical life?
It may be that you do not believe the evidence adduced in support of the Bible Sabbath; but, while your unbelief will make no difference with the facts in the case, it will make a difference with you in the day of Judgment. You need not look for a supernatural demonstration in favor of the Sabbath, for God will doubtless never give it you. You have the Bible in your own tongue, and it will witness against you in the last day if you allow any influence to turn your feet aside from the highway of truth and holiness therein revealed.
When the sun goes down on the sixth day, stop a moment, I pray you, and consider that, whether you believe in the Sabbath or not, God has a people scattered over the earth, who, at that very time, are seeking to honor him by observing the day he has commanded us to keep holy; and while, on the seventh day, you are hard at work preparing for the so-called “Christian Sabbath,” but, in fact, the heathen feast day of the sun, and the adopted institution of the papacy, they are resting from worldly cares and engaged in the public worship of God; and thus reflecting, I exhort you, like the Psalmist, to make haste to keep all the commandments of God.
A. SMITH.

THE SELLING TIME.

By F. Starr

THE work of converting sinners from the error of their ways, and saving souls from death, is of infinite importance. Our Saviour says: “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, . . . and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10 : 29, 30. For the sake of the gospel, men in every age have had to part with possessions and friends; and for doing so, they will have a sure reward.
Shall we expect salvation on any easier terms now? No, indeed. The closing work of the gospel calls for an increased amount of mind and means. But some are waiting to see the work progress a little further before they invest much in it. They want to have a little clearer evidence that the end is at hand. They think that just previous to the end the “selling time” will come, and then they will invest all in the work; but until they see the work of the third angel’s message further advanced, they do not feel like sacrificing of their means for it. All concede that when the image of the beast is erected, and the mark enforced, time will be very short. Then those who are now halting will probably be ready to “sell out,” and give generously. But, alas, none but those who have the mark of the beast will have the power to sell. Rev. 13 : 17. Unfavorable selling time! How much better to step out by faith now, relying on the abundant evidence we already have, and sacrifice as the cause of God demands. F. STARR.

EMPEROR OF CHINA.

Sir G. Staunton related a curious anecdote of old Kien Long, Emperor of China. He was inquiring of Sir George the manner in which physicians were paid in England. When, after some difficulty, his Majesty was made to comprehend the system, he exclaimed: “Is any man well in England, that can afford to be ill? Now I will inform you,” said he, “how I manage my physicians. I have four to whom the care of my health is committed. A certain weekly salary is allowed them, but the moment I am ill, the salary stops till I am well again. I need not inform you that my illnesses are unusually short.”

Gift Basket

“A little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts and almonds.” Gen. 43:11.
It is easier to believe an ill report than to inquire into the truth thereof.
SPIRITUAL hungering and thirstings are satisfied only with spiritual things.
THAT man cannot be upright before God who is unjust in his dealings with men.
HE who has not known adversity is but half acquainted with himself or others.
WHEN things are come to the execution, there is no means of success like celerity.
MINDS of only moderate calibre ordinarily condemn everything that is beyond their range.
He who takes care of the universe has arranged all things for the safety and good of the whole.
If one strives to treat others as he would be treated by them, he will not fail to come near the perfect life.
He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass; for every man has need to be forgiven.
No man has a right to expect the approbation of his neighbors while he has the disapprobation of his own conscience.
THOSE that are willing enough to take the pleasure and profit of sin are backward enough to take the blame and shame of it.
HEAVEN BETTER THAN EARTH.—John Newton once said to a lady with ideas of a pure church: “Well, madam, if there were a perfect church on earth, it would cease to be so the moment you and I entered it.”
He that is much in prayer shall grow rich in grace. He shall thrive and increase most that is busiest in this, which is our very traffic with Heaven, and fetches the most precious commodities thence.—Leighton.
WE may lose Heaven by neutrality, as well as by hostility; by wanting oil to our lamps, as well as by taking poison. The unprofitable servant will as surely be punished as the disobedient and rebellious servant. Undone duty will undo the soul!
HERE we walk with God as a Saviour, and if we walk humbly we shall not go about to establish our own righteousness, but submit ourselves unto the righteousness which is of God, and acknowledge that we have nothing to glory in before him.—Joy.
The world is governed by three things—wisdom, authority, and appearances. Wisdom is for thoughtful people, authority for rough people, and appearances for the great mass of superficial people, who can look only at the outside.
THERE is no sweeter will than that which prompts a woman to be of some service to another being than herself. The willingness with which a woman slips into an easy, helpless, idle life is an exact measurement of her poverty of character. Any woman with wealth of soul and vigor of character would rebel against such a life, and find her way to something better.

POCASSET AGAIN.

THE FACTS IN THE CASE.

In view of the use which is made of the Pocasset murder in some quarters where no other Adventists are known but Seventh-day Adventists, it was thought advisable that an effort be made to ascertain the actual facts in the case by a personal visit of some one competent to interview the proper parties in reference to this unfortunate affair. We accordingly wrote to Eld. D. A. Robinson, who has made a visit to the place, and gives us below the result of his inquiries. His report not only confirms what has been reiterated through the columns of the REVIEW, that there was no possible connection between that company and Seventh-day Adventists, and that we are no more to be associated with their doings than with the doings of any other denomination, but it also shows that they were entirely ignorant of S. D. Adventists; that, with the exception of one man, they did not even know of the existence of such a people as S. D. Adventists; and he knew so little of us, that he did not know we owned an office of publication, or that we published any books or periodicals; from which it follows, as they themselves acknowledge, that they have not received an idea they hold, from our people.
These facts, with some of the principles so ably set forth by Bro. Littlejohn in No. 23, last volume, may be embodied in pamphlet form for use in those places where people attempt, on account of this matter, to cast odium on Seventh-day Adventists, if the brethren so desire.
Bro. Robinson visited the Methodist minister of Pocasset, the interview with whom he thus records:—
“I asked him what he understood the report in the Boston Herald to mean by the branch of Adventists called Seventh-day Adventists. He replied, ‘I have a letter here I will show you that may give some light on that point.’ The letter was from an Adventist in Rose Water, Mich., requesting him to send them a statement of the faith of the company in Pocasset.” The writer then added, “We are what are called ‘First-day Adventists,’” and then stated the points of their faith. “Now,” said the minister, “they believe exactly as this company here, excepting in regard to the resurrection of the wicked dead, and on the point of the Sabbath.”
“What does he mean, said I, by ‘first-day’? etc. ‘I suppose he means, the old first-day,’ was the answer. I asked him if he meant the Jewish Sabbath. He said, Yes. I asked him especially if there were any of that class here; and he was very positive there were none.”
Bro. Robinson also had an interview with the man Davis, who has been prominently set forth as the associate of Freeman in this tragical matter. Of this interview he gives the following full account:—

INTERVIEW WITH DAVIS.

After some preliminary remarks the following conversation in substance ensued:—
“How long was Freeman a resident here?” “About six years. He came from Lynn here, but his home, I think, was in New Hampshire. When he lived in Lynn, she that is now his wife went from here and worked there also, and there they were married. Subsequently he came here and got a little place and settled down.”
“Was he an Adventist when he came here?” “No, sir; he was a Methodist, though inactive for years after coming here.”
“What first led him, since coming here, to become an active Christian again?” “Well, sir, one year ago last February Captain Bray, who had been a helper in the Moody meetings, came here as an evangelist and had a revival in the M. E. church. He dwelt considerably on entire consecration, etc. In that revival Freeman came out very strong.”
“Who first preached Adventism here, and when was it?” “An Eld. Flagg held a tent meeting for a week, two or three years ago. One year ago the first of this month, Charles Brown, of Orrington, Maine, came here and had one meeting. There was one man here who was much interested in Adventism, who induced Brown to come. Last summer the Adventists had a camp-meeting at Tremont, and we went up and were baptized.”
“Whom do you mean by we?” “Charlie [Freeman], and his wife, and myself.”
“What do you understand the Boston Herald to mean by the various branches of Adventists?” “The Adventists first started with Miller, and they believed Christ was coming bodily as he went up—not a spiritual affair. Since the passing of Miller’s ‘time,’ they have become divided up, yet I think nearly all look for a personal coming of Christ. The difference between the Crisis party and our folks, ‘Life and Advent,’ is so small it should not divide us.”
“What do you mean by life and advent?” “Well I hardly know what gave rise to the name, but we mean by it, life only in Christ—no life to the sinner.”
“They never will be raised, then?” “No, sir! never!”
“That was Freeman’s faith, was it?” “He was a firm believer in that.”
“This was Brown’s faith also, was it?” “Oh, yes! he preached it.”
“This camp-meeting you spoke of was held, then, by this branch of Life and Advent or non-resurrectionists?” “Oh! no, it was the Crisis party.”
“Well, but how came they to baptize you, believing as you did?” “I don’t know as they knew we had different ideas; we desired immersion, so they granted our request.”
“Who was the administrator?” “Eld. Hemenway. I think his home is in Athol, Mass.”
“What is the organ of the Crisis party?” “The World’s Crisis, printed in Boston.”
“The Herald spoke of Seventh-day Adventists. What do you understand that branch to be?” “Well, they keep the Sabbath.”
“Do not you and all Christians also keep the Sabbath?” “We keep what is called the Lord’s day, or Sunday. They keep the old seventh day.”
“The Jewish Sabbath, then?” “No, the Bible Sabbath.”
“Are there any of that class here?” “Not one. I think there never has been one in town. I did not get my ideas from them. I obtained them years ago; but it is an impracticable idea, so I never have troubled myself about it.”
“How many are there in your company now?” “About fifteen adults. Last fall Eld. Brown came down here again, and also Eld. Burbank of Philadelphia, and from that time we have held meetings all winter.”
“What caused the trouble between you and the Methodists in their meetings?” “It was because we advocated ancient Methodism, that is, entire consecration, and they could not stand it.”
“What preachers have been here besides Brown and Burbank?” “One Eld. Luther Howard, from somewhere in Maine. He held a few meetings here early this spring.”
“What is the organ of the branch of Adventists to which this company belong?” “It is the ‘Herald of Life.’”
“Printed where?” “Springfield, Mass.”
“Then of the branch of Seventh-day Adventists you have none here?” “Not any. Most everybody keeps what is called the Lord’s day, and under the circumstances we could not do differently. We never have paid any attention to that question, and I doubt if one of our company knows anything about it.”
“What is the organ of that peculiar branch of Adventists?” “I do not know. Don’t know as they have any.”
“Their preachers never have been here, then?” “No, I think not.”
“What do you think was the real cause of Freeman’s act?” “You want the bottom facts, do you?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, it was his implicit faith in the Bible, laying aside his reason and going by faith, thus becoming insane on that point at least. A man is sane when he uses his reason, otherwise insane. God told him to make a sacrifice. In reading his Bible he found that other men had had the same experience as himself. And, by the way, the night after the act I stayed there, and while there I took up a book; it was Josephus, and while glancing through it, my eye rested on the account of the Abrahamic sacrifice, all pictured out in flowery style. Charlie had marked passages all through this. He found in the case of Abraham one parallel to his own, and he acted out his faith.”
“What do you understand by faith?” “Well, Paul says it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
“What evidence did Freeman have that such an act would be right?” “The Lord told him to do it. God told Abraham to offer his son. He did it, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. He told Charlie to do a similar act, and now that is accounted to him for unrighteousness.”
“How did God tell him this?” “In here,” pointing to his heart. “God speaks to men differently now from what he did in Abraham’s day. Paul says that God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us through our hearts.”
“Did not God speak in a different manner to Abraham?” “Well, let us look at the account a few moments. God took Abraham out and showed him the land of Canaan, and told him he would give it to him. Afterward he told him again that they should have a son Isaac. Abraham doubted this, and his faith failed him, so God tries him again.”
“How did God communicate this instruction to Abraham?” “Well, it says God spoke to him, and I suppose he did.”
“Must he not have heard an audible voice, or was there not an angel or some personal intelligence that came to him?” “I suppose so. I was about to say that God tried him again, and told him to take his son and offer him up for a burnt-offering.”
“Did not the Lord tell him this in the same manner that he spoke to him previously? and if so, does it not show a great difference between his case and that of Freeman? An angel came to Abraham and told him those things, but Freeman was led simply by his imagination.”
“Well, I don’t know whether God spoke in this case as he had previously or not; I have not examined that account since the tragedy. I have about made up my mind that the quicker we get out of this idea of faith, and trust to our reason, the better it will be for us. I want to add that the reporters have done me great injustice in representing me as an unsafe character in the community. If I had always lived here it would not matter so much, for my neighbors know me; but I am known through the State, and not only in this State but in several of the States, having been an agent for several years for Fairbanks’ scales.”
Mr. Davis expresses all confidence in the idea that he will succeed in bringing the press to an account for the manner in which they have handled his character.
In summing up the results of his visit, Bro. Robinson gives the following as the conclusions to which he was led by all the facts he could gather:—
  1. That Freeman has been an out and out Adventist only about one year.
  2. That one prominent feature of his faith was “entire consecration,” and that he brought with him from the M. E. church.
  3. That he belonged to that class of Adventists known as the “Life” party, or “non-resurrectionists.”
  4. That he, his wife, and Davis, were baptized by the Crisis folks last June, Eld. Hemenway officiating.
  5. That no Seventh-day Adventist preacher has ever been in the town.
  6. That no Sabbath-keeper is now there or ever has been, so far as is known.
  7. The only man that could give me any light in regard to S. D. Adventists (Mr. Davis) was so little acquainted with us as a people, that he did not know whether we printed a paper or not, but thought we were so few in numbers that we did not.
8. That the preachers who have been there were all of the class mentioned in (3), and they were Messrs. Flagg, Chas. Brown of Orrington, Me., Eld. Burbank of Philadelphia, and L. L. Howard of Maine.

THE NEW VOLUME.

By Editor

We this week enter upon volume fifty-four, the REVIEW being the oldest prophetic journal but one published in the United States.
The volume just closed was, in the interesting character and importance of its matter, second to none that has yet appeared. Over the portals of the incoming volume we inscribe the word “Better,” determined that the last volume shall always be the best.
We expect our contributors who have so faithfully stood by the paper during the past volume, will continue their efforts, and still earn the warm gratitude of their readers during the volume to come.
Thanks are also extended to those who have interested themselves to increase the circulation of the REVIEW, by which the subscription list has been very materially enlarged during the past volume. A continuance of their efforts is earnestly solicited. Every Sabbath-keeping family should have the paper; and it should go to thousands of those without.
Let every worker in the great vineyard be faithful; and soon He who has something better to give than gold and silver, will say, Such as I have give I unto thee. Arise, and enter into the joy of thy Lord!

SURRENDERING

A singular and significant movement is commencing among the Jews in reference to the Sabbath. Is this people who have so long observed the Sabbath to surrender it at last, just as a great movement is inaugurated to elevate it to its proper place in Christian worship? Some at least, it seems, are willing to subordinate principle to convenience and profit. The Inter-Ocean of June 19 thus speaks of the movement:—
“Is the sacredness of the Sabbath to be transferred from Saturday to Sunday by Jew as well as by Christian? Are synagogue and church to stand open together, and shall one day commemorate the creation and the resurrection? It appears that the more progressive portion of various Jewish congregations here, for the sake of convenience, favored the holding of public services on Sunday, not giving up, however, the regular service on Saturday. A custom of double service of this sort has sprung up in the Sinai congregation of this city, which seems to threaten a disruption of the organization. Dr. Kohler, the minister, has resigned by reason, he says, of the differences of opinion among his people on this Sabbath question; and the meeting held on Tuesday evening, which accepted his resignation, broke up in some confusion, while a set of resolutions, covering the matter of Sunday service, was before it and undisposed of.
“While there is no disposition on the part of any of the Jews to recognize the Sunday as differing in character from either of the five days that succeed it, there is a disposition on the part of some to forego the strict observance of their Sabbath, and, purely as a matter of greater convenience, to hold their public religious exercises on the same day as the Christians among whom they dwell. Of course this offends the more conservative branch—the rigidly orthodox Jews—and, remembering how tenacious some of the evangelical Christians are for the strict observance of the day which they have invested with the name and sanctity of the Jewish Sabbath, it is not to be wondered at that a suggestion to weaken the reverence for the Sabbath of his fathers should strike a devout Jew with something like consternation.
“There is not in this country any branch of business in which Jews usually engage that can be carried on with any profit on Sunday. Those who stand fast by their own Sabbath are practically compelled to keep two holy days in a week, and the consequent loss of time becomes a serious burden, from which it is not strange that some are seeking a way of escape. Where the Jews are persecuted there is not the least danger of their relaxing the strictness of their Sabbath observance; but the tendency of toleration from others is to induce an assimilation in habits of domestic and public worship, as in all other matters, to those of the people in whose midst they are. Jews are not likely to be Christianized, nor Christians Judaized, by living together; but both may possibly be humanized, and many uncomfortable points of difference may be worn away.”

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

By John Nevins Andrews

We embarked at New York on board the steamer Virginia, Thursday, May 29, for Glasgow, and shall go thence by railroad to London. The weather has been unpleasant nearly all the way across the ocean. It has been cold, foggy, and rainy most of the time. We have had high winds much of the way, but no fierce gales. No severe seasickness has been experienced, but the rough sea has kept the passengers a little sick most of the time. Our accommodations have not been so stylish as we might have had by higher priced lines; but everything has been good enough. The captain and all of the officers have shown us great kindness. By request of the captain, I have spoken both Sundays to the passengers.
I still feel considerable prostration, and request prayer that I may have strength for the work before me. I desire to devote myself without reserve to the cause of Christ. We are now at Greenock, waiting for the tide to enable our steamer to go up the Clyde to Glasgow.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Greenock, June 9.

Doing the Lord's Work With His Blessing

In doing the Lord's work we may expect the Lord's smile.

Camp-Meeting at Walla Walla, W. T.

By S. N. Haskell

This meeting was held in a grove of cottonwood trees, about five miles from Walla Walla City. The ordained ministers present were Elds. I. D. Van Horn, A. T. Jones, W. L. Raymond, and the writer. Twenty-eight tents were upon the ground, and two hundred and twenty-nine campers by actual count, while some who lived near by did not camp on the ground. Those who attended this meeting were mostly Sabbath-keepers living east of the Cascade mountains. Their numbers and wealth are sufficient to sustain an independent Conference, and the Cascade mountains seem to be a natural division between the brethren here and those farther down the Columbia River. In view of this and the expense of traveling between the two points, the propriety of dividing the Conference was considered. After consultation it was decided that under the existing circumstances it would not be for the interest of the cause to make such a division at present, though it may be accomplished next year. We were happily disappointed to see the strength of this portion of the North Pacific Mission. Some of the time during the meeting the weather was cold and rainy. This made it quite uncomfortable; yet all made the best of it, and were cheerful and happy!
Friday, P. M., an invitation was given to those who wished to seek God to make it manifest by coming forward. About fifty responded, many of whom were seeking God for the first time. Entire families who had never given their hearts to God came to the front seats. Parents and children, brothers and sisters, wept together before the Lord. While we were bowed in prayer, and during the testimonies borne, the entire congregation were at times in tears. Certainly the Lord came very near. On the Sabbath a similar move was made with similar results. On Monday, fifteen willing souls were buried beneath the liquid wave in commemoration of the burial and resurrection of our divine Lord, and most of these were converted at the meeting.
The tract and missionary work was taken hold of with a good degree of interest. About fifty subscribers were obtained on the camp-ground for the REVIEW, Good Health, Signs of the Times, and Youth’s Instructor. This was doing well, considering the circumstances.
Much interest was manifested in the Sabbath-school work. A State association was organized, and Sabbath-school records and maps were taken. The Song Anchor and Youth’s Instructor had been previously subscribed for by the churches.
The closing meeting was held at 5½ A. M. Tuesday. Thus closed an interesting and we trust a profitable camp-meeting to the northern Pacific Mission, and the first one of the kind ever held in this part of the country.
S. N. HASKELL.
Walla Walla, June 10, 1879.

CAMP-MEETING AT FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

By Geo. I. Butler

Fairfield, Iowa, a pleasant town of several thousand inhabitants, situated at the crossing of the C. B. & Q. and S. W. branch of the C. R. I. and P. Railroads, was chosen as the place for the first of our three Iowa camp-meetings this year. Lectures were once given here, and there was a society of our people here eight or ten years ago, several families still remaining faithful to the cause. Nineteen family and church tents were pitched, besides the two large tents, one of which furnished camping room for many. About three hundred camped on the ground. Some of our churches turned out remarkably, fifty-six being present from Mt. Pleasant, forty-six from Sigourney, etc. We had a beautiful ground about half a mile from the square, with a pleasant grove and nice sod. The weather was much against us. It rained, I think, every day for five days, before the last day of the meeting. Sunday we had perhaps 1200 people on the ground, who gave excellent attention. Had the weather been favorable we should have had a large crowd. Our canvassers did well Sunday in obtaining 15 subscribers for REVIEW, 24 for Good Health, 4 for the Signs, 11 for the Instructor, and 68 for the College Record; in all, 122.
The Lord helped in preaching. Bro. Hollenbeck rendered acceptable service in preaching and in the music. We were glad to have father Stephen Pierce with us. His cheering testimonies were much appreciated by the brethren. Our devotional meetings were good, especially toward the last. On Monday we had a most precious season. Nearly half of the congregation were forward for prayers, and quite a number made a start for the first time. The Lord came very near to us, and many hearts were melted in love and tenderness. Some of our children made a start for the kingdom. Twenty-two were baptized in a beautiful pond near the ground. Most of these have started within a few months, and a goodly number at this meeting. It was one of the most pleasant baptisms I ever participated in.
Our T. and M. work was considered, and several hundred dollars subscribed to the reserve fund, also some to the tent and camp-meeting fund. We had an interesting Sabbath-school, in which nearly all participated. Our State is making good advancement in the Sabbath-school work. We had about three hours’ talk on the health and temperance subjects, and Monday morning we obtained about one hundred and fifty signers to the teetotal pledge. A good advance was made in this direction, and its influence will be felt.
Altogether this was an excellent meeting, and it left a good impression on believers and unbelievers. Outsiders offered a good sum toward expenses if we would stay with the tent and hold lectures. The people were evidently favorably impressed, and I believe this will be a good point for future labor. Many of our own people came to this meeting who never attend our large annual gatherings, and they were deeply affected by it. I feel sure the time will come when we shall have many more camp-meetings than we have now, and thus reach many more than can be induced to attend the annual meetings.
In our closing meeting held about 4 A. M. Tuesday morning, it was refreshing to hear expressions of gratitude from the people for the benefits of this camp-meeting. We felt much encouraged to labor on in the good cause of God. Truly the Lord is good to us, and we hope to see the cause greatly benefited by our three camp-meetings in Iowa this season.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 18, 1879.

FAINT NOT, NOR FALTER.

By M. Wood

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.”
From this language of Scripture we are led to the conclusion that Job was a loyal subject of the most high God, walking blameless before the Lord, keeping all his commandments, and believing in the second advent of the blessed Redeemer. God blessed this ancient worthy in a most wonderful manner. His worldly possessions were immense. In short, this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. He was more eminent than any other person in that region in wisdom, wealth and piety,—all within was holy, all without was righteous; and his whole life was employed in abstaining from evil, and in seeking God; yet this saint was not exempt from the vicissitudes of life, nor from the power of Satan. Says Job, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
Satan, while going to and fro in the earth, beheld Job walking before God with integrity and uprightness of heart, and basking in the smiles of the Almighty, and he cast his revengeful eye upon this man of God, and sought to destroy him. Satan reasoned very much as men reason to-day relative to God’s people: “Put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Let poverty and affliction come upon him, and he will prove a traitor to his Master. We know how well Job stood the test, and how the Lord turned his captivity when he prayed for his friends, and gave Job twice as much as he had before.
But how will it be with us; will our lives be such as to put to shame the enemies of the cross of Christ, and prove them false prophets? or shall we succumb to the temptations and trials which we encounter by the way, and yield the ground so nobly gained? God forbid that we should falter now. No man has ever attained to the full stature of manhood who has not been ground as it were to powder, by the deprivations, hardships, and trials which he has encountered in life. This is a world where men are fitted for a higher sphere. They are not made by velvet fingers, but molded by iron hands.
“Oh for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by many a foe; That will not tremble on the brink Of poverty or woe.”
M. WOOD.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

Notwithstanding the cold and wet weather, we have up to date held twenty-four services in the tent. These discourses have awakened a deep interest with a few; and now, as the weather is milder, we hope for an increase in attendance. It takes a longer time to raise an interest in such a meeting here than in America. To a large extent the services in the churches here consist in set forms and prayers more than in expositions of Scripture, so that it is like a new departure with many to listen to preaching requiring deep thought and study on their part, and we “must meet the people where they are.”
Some, seeing a prospect that the tent meeting is liable to make a stir, are very busy in circulating falsehoods respecting the preaching at the tent. Even this, we trust, may be turned to account; for some say, “Well, I am going now to hear for myself what they do preach.” They come and hear, and become interested. This proves the word true that “they can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” Our daily prayer to God is that in this case he will fulfill his word. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”
Since my last report we have received a number of friendly responses to missionary letters. One says: “I wish to express my thanks to you for your kindness and trouble in sending me those valuable and interesting papers, the Signs of the Times, as they are full of information. They furnish a vast amount of useful knowledge, especially on Bible topics. I should very much like a continuance of the paper.” Inclosed we found pay for the Signs for one quarter.
Another writes: “As a Christian I am encouraged by reading the truths the Signs teaches. It is a paper admirably conducted. . . I never read any other paper which so faithfully argues for the position it takes, in the same spirit meeting the objections of others.”
Another, who has been receiving the Signs from St. Helena, Cal., writes: “We are greatly obliged to you for taking such an interest in us, in sending us those nice papers to read. I think they give us a great amount of information as to the times in which we live. We all take an interest in reading them.”
These responses, and other tokens of good, encourage us to persevere in the work of sowing the seed, and we earnestly pray that the Lord will abundantly water the seed sown. One party, after reading a short time, has decided to pay for eighteen copies of the Signs and REVIEW to be sent for one year to different parts of Great Britain. So it may be observed there is some missionary work going on here, if it is not all systematically organized.
Pray for us. Our daily prayer and ardent desire is that the Lord will bless the workers and the work everywhere.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
P. S. A card received this 11th day of June, tells of Bro. Andrews’ safe arrival in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. He was to come to London to-day.
J. N. L.
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